TIGERVILLE, SC - The Ohio Dominican softball team resumed play this weekend, traveling to South Carolina for a doubleheader against the North Greenville Trailblazers at Jan McDonald Field on Saturday.
In the noon game, the Panthers got off to a strong start when senior outfielder Kaleigh Golden led off with a single up the middle. A sacrifice bunt from Erica Massey advanced Golden to second, and a single through the left side by Kendrick Sterling brought her home, giving ODU an early 1-0 lead.
The Trailblazers quickly answered in the bottom of the inning. Emily Blackwell walked, stole second, and scored on a single up the middle by Karley Green, tying the game heading into the second inning.
Scoring picked up again in the fourth for North Greenville. Maddie Stone reached base after being hit by a pitch, and her pinch runner, Gabrielle Badillo, crossed the plate following a single to right field by Virginia Bishop. A bunt RBI single from Lexie Metcalf allowed Ansley Fowler, running for Bishop, to score, extending the Trailblazers' lead to 3-1. A passed ball later in the inning brought home Ari Day, making it 4-1 heading into the fifth.
ODU responded in the top of the fifth. Erica Massey, who led off with a single, scored on a sacrifice fly RBI by junior Lilly Irvine. Addie Triplett followed with a single through the left side and eventually scored on an RBI single to left field by freshman Avery Mueller. By the bottom of the fifth, NGU held a slim 4-3 advantage.
North Greenville added to their lead in the bottom of the inning when Emily Dawson hit an RBI single up the middle, allowing Ali Hartin to score and make it 5-3.
The Panthers attempted a late rally in the seventh, with Shelby Flynn bringing Addie Triplett home on a sacrifice fly RBI. However, their efforts fell short, and NGU secured the 5-4 victory.
Golden, Triplett, and Sterling each recorded two hits, while Massey, Irvine, Mueller, and Liana Morreale contributed one hit apiece. Sterling, Flynn, Irvine, and Mueller each notched an RBI.
Pitcher Marlee Jacobs took the loss, allowing four hits and four runs, while Emma Grau pitched two innings in relief, giving up two hits and one run.
Game 2
In their second matchup against North Greenville, the Panthers secured a 5-3 victory. Erica Massey got things started with a single to shortstop and advanced to second on a walk by Addie Triplett. Both runners then stole a base, setting up Kendrick Sterling for a sacrifice fly RBI that brought Massey home. Triplett later scored on a single through the right side by Shelby Flynn, giving ODU an early 2-0 lead.
The Trailblazers didn't get on the board until the bottom of the sixth, when Maddie Stone doubled to right field, driving in Karley Green and Emily Blackwell to cut the deficit to 3-2 heading into the final inning.
Ohio Dominican added key insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Kaleigh Golden scored on a single by Massey, who advanced to third on a throwing error. Another throwing error by the first baseman allowed Massey to come home, securing the 5-2 lead and eventual win for the Panthers.
Freshman Amelia Spidell earned her first career win, pitching a complete game and allowing just two runs on three hits across 22 at-bats.
Kaleigh Golden contributed two hits and a run, while Erica Massey added two hits and two runs. Kendrick Sterling recorded an RBI, with Avery Mueller and Lilly Irvine each tallying a hit. Shelby Flynn notched a hit, run, and RBI, while Addie Triplett added a hit and a run.
The Panthers will wrap up their weekend on Sunday with a doubleheader against Lincoln Memorial University at The Dorothy Neely Softball Complex in Harrogate, Tennessee, with games set for 12 and 2 PM.
